YOUTH
SERVICE
BUREAU
Of Rock Island County
4709 44 Street, Suite 5
Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone:(309) 793-3460
News for Friends of the
Youth Service Bureau of
Rock Island County
Serving The Quad Cities Area Since 1972
Therapeutic Writing Groups Promote
Emotional Expression in Youths
2012
Our Mission
The Youth
Service
Bureau exists
to strengthen
and empower
youth, families
and
communities
through
effective
counseling
prevention
and
leadership.
Youth Service
Bureau
encourages you to
serve the
community by
contributing to
United Way of the
Quad Cities Area. If
you would like to
designate your
contribution to
programs serving
children and
families, please
consider
designating Youth
Service Bureau as
your contribution
recipient.
Thirty-nine children attending the Martin Luther King
Center’s Summer Camp, met with YSB Counselor Johnnie
Woods for a therapeutic writing group. Some of the
participants wrote poems while others wrote stories.
Johnnie’s goal was to introduce children to the experience of
emotional expression through the written word.
The follow story - Second Chance - was written by Braxton Crawford
Trevor Stevenson lost control of his car. It seemed to disobey his commands and seemed to have a
mind of its own. Sudden thoughts of death filled his head. “It can’t be my time,” he thought to himself.
“It’s too early, I haven’t accomplished enough!” He could easily die. In one split second his life could
be lost.
Thoughts of his wife dominated his mind. He loved her. It pained him that he might never capture a
glimpse of her beauty again, but then he thought about his career. It was an aspect of his life that he
took seriously. He thought about the nights he fell asleep in his office, his head resting against the
scattered papers on his desk.
He had always thought of home as the place where he lived, a place to relax. And now it was a place
he might never see again. He thought of his wife, the woman he loved so very much. The woman he
committed his life to. Would this moment on this lonely road take it all away from him?
Trevor desperately clutched the steering wheel. He wished he could wind back time and be with his
wife instead of staying late in the office. He would go home, the place where he could always be
himself. He felt blackness and death around him. He desperately wanted to escape it. Suddenly the
car seemed to regain stability. Trevor’s heart was pounding as the car stopped. He breathed heavily
and buried his head in his palms.
Had his wish come true? Had he been given a second chance? Was it a wake-up call? Trevor started
the engine and headed toward home. For the first time, he had an overwhelming appreciation for his
life, his wife and his home. When he pulled into the driveway, the neighborhood seemed quiet. He
could hear insects singing a steady and familiar sound. He thought: how sweet the sound!
He got out the car and entered his house. It was dark and he fumbled around for the light switch.
When he turned the light on, the light illuminated the familiar mirror in the hallway. His face, looking
back at him from the mirror, seemed different. He studied his reflection. Trevor thought past his short
hair and skinny nose. He thought about how as a middle age man he had felt a sense of fulfillment,
but before this day, he had not appreciated what a great life he had. A slight smile came over his
face. For the first time in his life he felt grateful.
Trevor headed toward the bedroom and stood for a while watching his wife resting peacefully.
She must have sensed his presence because she sat up to look at him. “Trevor!” she said as she
rubbed her eyes. He replied, “Yes, honey. Don’t worry, it’s me. I’m home now.”
A Note of Thanks!
The 10th Annual YSB-Whitey Verstraete Memorial Golf Outing was held
on June 18th at Pinnacle Country Club.
Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors:
Ben & Lois Larson McAdams
Supporting Sponsors
John Deere
Jumer’s Casino & Hotel
The Verstraete Family
South Moline Township
Also, many
thanks to Hole
Sponsors,
Volunteers, and
everyone who
played in our golf
outing!
Nearly $10,000 was raised to provide services to children and families in
the Quad Cities Community!
Please consider making a donation by printing this contribution form and mailing your
tax-deductible gift to the YSB at 4709 44 St., Suite 5, Rock Island, IL 61201. Donations
may also be made via our website at www.ysbri.com Thank You.
Name___________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
Phone__________________________________________________________________
I would like to donate:
$25
$50
$75
$100
Other Amount $ __________
____I would like to donate anonymously
This is a joint gift from myself and_______________________________________
This donation is in memory of__________________________________________
This donation is in honor of ___________________________________________
I would like my donation to help fund
___Individual and Family Therapy Program
___Prevention Attention Quick (PAQ) Program
___Peer Justice (Teen Court) Program
___General Donation
___I would like to be a fundraising volunteer. Please contact me at the number listed
above
If you would like to receive this newsletter via email, or you would like to be removed from this
mailing list, please send notification to: [email protected].
Youth Service Bureau Staff and Board
Staff
Governing Board
Richard Connor, Executive Director
Bobbie Fox, Office Administrator
Dale Guebert, Clinical Supervisor
Charlene Lyon, Quality Assurance Secretary
Gustavo Jimenez, Bilingual Family Therapist
Casey Stichter, Family Therapist
Lori Luna, Family Therapist
Johnnie Woods, Family Therapist
Ron Martinez, Family Therapist
Stacy Hayes Kane, Family Therapist
Erin McCallister, Peer Justice Outreach Worker
Paul Schmitt, Chairman
Victor Moreno, Vice Chairman
Tim Bell, Secretary/Treasurer
Phil Banaszek
Trevor Fisk
Gary Ingelson
Julie McHard
Mike Meersman
Kevin Rafferty
Terry Taylor
Kelly Van Veldhuizen Post
Scott Verstraete
Youth Service Bureau provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Charitable Contributions
The Youth Service Bureau of Rock Island County relies on the support of individuals, businesses,
foundations and community organizations. Every gift, no matter the size, helps children and families in
Rock Island County. The YSB would like to recognize the following donors who have contributed to our
organization the past few months. Thank you for everything you have done to make our services
possible.
YSB deeply regrets and respectfully apologizes for any omissions or errors. We strive for accuracy in acknowledging all of our
donors who are a vital part of our success, however, mistakes do sometimes occur. Please call our office at 309-793-3460
regarding any omissions or corrections.
Governmental Business Systems
John Sample, Blackhawk Family Therapy
Modern Woodmen
Quad City Bank and Trust
John Deere
The Moline Foundation
South Moline Township
Arlin and Kelly Van Veldhuizen Post
Ben and Lois Larson McAdams
Franz Helpenstell - in loving honor and memory of Esta
Helpenstell
R. W. Skip Bishop
Tim Bell - in memory of Charles “Chick” Bloome
Rafferty Funeral Home
Tim Bell - in memory of Alice VanBruwaene
The Verstraete Family
Jumer’s Casin and Hotel
Tim Bell
Shike Cattle Company
Mike and Marty Meersman
The Brickkicker Property Inspection Company
Gary and Nancy Ingelson
Heritage Landscape
The Lyon Family
Nestle Purina Pet Care Company
The Connor Family
River Cities Engineering, Inc.
James Teros
Silvis Police Association
Mike Kessel, Mel Foster Insurance
IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union
Jodi and Trevor Fisk
Chief Victor Moreno, East Moline Poliice Department
Stichter Construction
East Moline Police Benevolent Association
Phil Banaszek
Zach Fox, Country Financial
DHCU Community Credit Union
KVF Quad Corp.
Drs. Millman, Riggins and Peterson, Riverside Dentistry
Southeast National Bank
Youth Service Bureau encourages you to serve the community by
contributing to United Way of the Quad Cities Area. If you would like to
designate your contribution to programs serving children and families,
please consider designating Youth Service Bureau as your contribution